Introduction to Cancer Treatment

Overview of Cancer Treatments

Choice of cancer treatment is influenced by several factors, including the specific characteristics of your cancer; your overall condition; and whether the goal of treatment is to cure your cancer, keep your cancer from spreading, or to relieve the symptoms caused by cancer. Depending on these factors, you may receive one or more of the following:

* Surgery
* Chemotherapy
* Radiation therapy
* Hormonal therapy
* Targeted therapy
* Biological therapy

One or more treatment modalities may be used to provide you with the most effective treatment. Increasingly, it is common to use several treatment modalities together (concurrently) or in sequence with the goal of preventing recurrence. This is referred to as multi-modality treatment of the cancer.
Surgery

Surgery is used to diagnose cancer, determine its stage, and to treat cancer. One common type of surgery that may be used to help with diagnosing cancer is a biopsy. A biopsy involves taking a tissue sample from the suspected cancer for examination by a specialist in a laboratory. A biopsy is often performed in the physician’s office or in an outpatient surgery center. A positive biopsy indicates the presence of cancer; a negative biopsy may indicate that no cancer is present in the sample.

When surgery is used for treatment, the cancer and some tissue adjacent to the cancer are typically removed. In addition to providing local treatment of the cancer, information gained during surgery is useful in predicting the likelihood of cancer recurrence and whether other treatment modalities will be necessary.

Learn more about surgery.
Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is any treatment involving the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Cancer chemotherapy may consist of single drugs or combinations of drugs, and can be administered through a vein, injected into a body cavity, or delivered orally in the form of a pill. Chemotherapy is different from surgery or radiation therapy in that the cancer-fighting drugs circulate in the blood to parts of the body where the cancer may have spread and can kill or eliminate cancers cells at sites great distances from the original cancer. As a result, chemotherapy is considered a systemic treatment.

More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer receive chemotherapy. For millions of people who have cancers that respond well to chemotherapy, this approach helps treat their cancer effectively, enabling them to enjoy full, productive lives. Furthermore, many side effects once associated with chemotherapy are now easily prevented or controlled, allowing many people to work, travel, and participate in many of their other normal activities while receiving chemotherapy.

Learn more about chemotherapy treatment and the management of side effects.
Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to damage or kill cancer cells by preventing them from growing and dividing. Similar to surgery, radiation therapy is a local treatment used to eliminate or eradicate visible tumors. Radiation therapy is not typically useful in eradicating cancer cells that have already spread to other parts of the body. Radiation therapy may be externally or internally delivered. External radiation delivers high-energy rays directly to the tumor site from a machine outside the body. Internal radiation, or brachytherapy, involves the implantation of a small amount of radioactive material in or near the cancer. Radiation may be used to cure or control cancer, or to ease some of the symptoms caused by cancer. Sometimes radiation is used with other types of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and surgery, and sometimes it is used alone.

For more information, go to Radiation Therapy.
Hormonal Therapy

Hormones are naturally occurring substances in the body that stimulate the growth of hormone sensitive tissues, such as the breast or prostate gland. When cancer arises in breast or prostate tissue, its growth and spread may be caused by the body’s own hormones. Therefore, drugs that block hormone production or change the way hormones work, and/or removal of organs that secrete hormones, such as the ovaries or testicles, are ways of fighting cancer. Hormone therapy, similar to chemotherapy, is a systemic treatment in that it may affect cancer cells throughout the body.
Targeted Therapy

A targeted therapy is one that is designed to treat only the cancer cells and minimize damage to normal, healthy cells. Cancer treatments that “target” cancer cells may offer the advantage of reduced treatment-related side effects and improved outcomes.

Conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, cannot distinguish between cancer cells and healthy cells. Consequently, healthy cells are commonly damaged in the process of treating the cancer, which results in side effects. Chemotherapy damages rapidly dividing cells, a hallmark trait of cancer cells. In the process, healthy cells that are also rapidly dividing, such as blood cells and the cells lining the mouth and GI tract are also damaged. Radiation therapy kills some healthy cells that are in the path of the radiation or near the cancer being treated. Newer radiation therapy techniques can reduce, but not eliminate this damage. Treatment-related damage to healthy cells leads to complications of treatment, or side effects. These side effects may be severe, reducing a patient's quality of life, compromising their ability to receive their full, prescribed treatment, and sometimes, limiting their chance for an optimal outcome from treatment.
Biological Therapy

Biological therapy is referred to by many terms, including immunologic therapy, immunotherapy, or biotherapy. Biological therapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to facilitate the killing of cancer cells. Types of biological therapy include interferon, interleukin, monoclonal antibodies, colony stimulating factors (cytokines), and vaccines.
Personalized Cancer Care

There is no longer a “one-size-fits-all” approach to cancer treatment. Even among patients with the same type of cancer, the behavior of the cancer and its response to treatment can vary widely. By exploring the reasons for this variation, researchers have begun to pave the way for more personalized cancer treatment. It is becoming increasingly clear that specific characteristics of cancer cells and cancer patients can have a profound impact on prognosis and treatment outcome. Although factoring these characteristics into treatment decisions makes cancer care more complex, it also offers the promise of improved outcomes.

The idea of matching a particular treatment to a particular patient is not a new one. It has long been recognized, for example, that hormonal therapy for breast cancer is most likely to be effective when the breast cancer contains receptors for estrogen and/or progesterone. Testing for these receptors is part of the standard clinical work-up of breast cancer. What is new, however, is the pace at which researchers are identifying new tumor markers, new tests, and new and more targeted drugs that individualize cancer treatment. Tests now exist that can assess the likelihood of cancer recurrence, the likelihood of response to particular drugs, and the presence of specific cancer targets that can be attacked by new anti-cancer drugs that directly target individual cancer cells.

To learn more about personalized cancer care for two common types of cancer, visit the following:

* Breast Cancer
* Colon Cancer

In-Depth Cancer Information
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Since our website migration to this new look and feel we have been working dilgently to restore the information previously provided in this section. As the data is put back in place, the below links will become active. As always we thank you for your continued support and understanding as we work toward making all the valuble information below available to you.

* Information for the Newly Diagnosed
* Types of Cancer
* Treatment Information
* Testing Center
* Current Clinical Trials Going on All Across the Country
* A Searchable Index of Information
* Up to the Minute News Information and More In-Depth Articles
* Support and Resources for Families and Caregivers
What Is Cancer?

Newly Diagnosed
A new diagnosis of cancer can be a shock, making you feel out of control and overwhelmed. Getting informed can help alleviate these feelings. Remember, very few cancers require emergency treatment; you have time to learn about your diagnosis and treatment options, ask questions, and get a second opinion. This section is designed to help you address your initial questions before you move forward with your treatment.

What is Cancer?
Cancer is not one disease, but many diseases that occur in different areas of the body. Each type of cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells. Under normal conditions, cell reproduction is carefully controlled by the body. However, these controls can malfunction, resulting in abnormal cell growth and the development of a lump, mass, or tumor. Some cancers involving the blood and blood-forming organs do not form tumors but circulate through other tissues where they grow.

A tumor may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Cells from cancerous tumors can spread throughout the body. This process, called metastasis, occurs when cancer cells break away from the original tumor and travel in the circulatory or lymphatic systems until they are lodged in a small capillary network in another area of the body. Common locations of metastasis are the bones, lungs, liver, and central nervous system.

The type of cancer refers to the organ or area of the body where the cancer first occurred. Cancer that has metastasized to other areas of the body is named for the part of the body where it originated. For example, if breast cancer has spread to the bones, it is called "metastatic breast cancer" not bone cancer.

How did I get cancer?
Although every patient and family member wants to know the answer to this question, the reason people develop cancer is not well understood. There are some known carcinogens (materials that can cause cancer), but many are still undiscovered. We do not know why some people who are exposed to carcinogens get cancer and others do not. The length and amount of exposure are believed to affect the chances of developing a disease. For example, as exposure to cigarette smoking increases, the chance of developing lung cancer also increases. Genetics also plays an important role in whether an individual develops cancer. For example, certain types of breast cancer have a genetic component.

What’s next?
Following your diagnosis of cancer, your reaction may be one of shock and disbelief. If you have been told that chemotherapy or radiation therapy are an important part of your treatment, many unpleasant images may come to mind. But as you move beyond that initial shock to begin the journey of surviving your cancer, you have many good reasons to be optimistic. Medicine has made—and continues to make—great strides in treating cancer and in making cancer treatment more tolerable, both physically and emotionally.

No one would call cancer a normal experience, but by proactively managing aspects of your treatment, you can maintain a sense of normalcy in your life. Fighting cancer is not a challenge you face alone. It's a team effort that involves family, friends, and your healthcare team. Don't overlook the strength that can come from having your support network by your side.

Cancer Information

What Causes Mesothelioma Cancer?
Exposure to asbestos fibers and dust is what is killing so many people. The problem has gotten so bad because the symptoms of mesothelioma don't show up for years. By the time they figured it out, millions of people had been exposued and continue to be exposed even today. Asbestos should be banned. Some countries have already stop using asbestos and more countries should unless they find a way to change asbestos so that it can be made less harmful or harmless. Asbestos is much to dangerious to humans and animals for it not to be regulated and controled. The growing number of asbestos cases is proof that it causes cancer and suffering to all those that come in contact with it and the families of those that are diagnoises with asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer.

Cancer Information
One of the most important keys to good health is good information”
Dr. Danny Welch, NFCR Project Director, University of Alabama-Birmingham

Today, more than ever, people are doing a great deal of research on their own to help prevent or beat cancer. The information presented here is meant to assist you in that research by providing you with the most complete and accurate information out there today. By working with scientists, writers and medical professionals in the world, we have created a single-source informational resource for you. Our goal is to make this free and accessible to everyone.

You will find:

* In-Depth Cancer Information
* NFCR Quarterly Newsletters
* NFCR Monthly E-Newsletter
* Cancer FAQ
* NFCR On Your Health Series
* NFCR Cancer Detection Guide
* NFCR Childhood Cancer Detection Chart
* Cancer-Fighting Recipes

This information is free and available to anyone seeking the information.
As the leading cancer charity in the United States dedicated to scientific research that leads to the cures for cancer, your support of course is always appreciated. You can help us more widely distribute this critical information by clicking here to donate to the NFCR.

Cancer Information

What Causes Mesothelioma Cancer?
Exposure to asbestos fibers and dust is what is killing so many people. The problem has gotten so bad because the symptoms of mesothelioma don't show up for years. By the time they figured it out, millions of people had been exposued and continue to be exposed even today. Asbestos should be banned. Some countries have already stop using asbestos and more countries should unless they find a way to change asbestos so that it can be made less harmful or harmless. Asbestos is much to dangerious to humans and animals for it not to be regulated and controled. The growing number of asbestos cases is proof that it causes cancer and suffering to all those that come in contact with it and the families of those that are diagnoises with asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer.

Cancer Information
One of the most important keys to good health is good information”
Dr. Danny Welch, NFCR Project Director, University of Alabama-Birmingham

Today, more than ever, people are doing a great deal of research on their own to help prevent or beat cancer. The information presented here is meant to assist you in that research by providing you with the most complete and accurate information out there today. By working with scientists, writers and medical professionals in the world, we have created a single-source informational resource for you. Our goal is to make this free and accessible to everyone.

You will find:

* In-Depth Cancer Information
* NFCR Quarterly Newsletters
* NFCR Monthly E-Newsletter
* Cancer FAQ
* NFCR On Your Health Series
* NFCR Cancer Detection Guide
* NFCR Childhood Cancer Detection Chart
* Cancer-Fighting Recipes

This information is free and available to anyone seeking the information.
As the leading cancer charity in the United States dedicated to scientific research that leads to the cures for cancer, your support of course is always appreciated. You can help us more widely distribute this critical information by clicking here to donate to the NFCR.

Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which the cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining of the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium). It can also be single handedly pointed to the exposure of asbestos as the cause. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is particularly difficult for doctors to diagnose and one that usually does not respond well to therapy.
Mesothelioma’s Cause - Asbestos Exposure

At some point in our lives, nearly all of us are exposed to asbestos via the air we breathe and the water that we drink. This can be from natural deposits in the earth and from the deterioration of asbestos products around us. Most of us, however, will not become ill as a result of the exposure. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in various ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos induced cancer.

As early as the late 1800’s asbestos was used commercially in North America, but it’s use increased dramatically during the World War II era when shipyards produced massive numbers of ships for the war effort. Since then asbestos containing products were used by the construction, building, automotive and manufacturing industries. For more than 50 years, products containing asbestos remained unregulated, and the manufacturer of those products continued to produce, knowing full well that many of the millions of workers who came into contact with their products would ultimately suffer from it’s exposure. Finally, in the late 1970s, the Consumer Products Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and artificial ash for gas fireplaces because the fiber could easily be released during it’s use. Then in 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency banned all new use of asbestos, but uses established prior to that time were still allowed. Although awareness of the dangers of asbestos and public concern over the issue have led to a decline in domestic consumption over the years, a total ban on asbestos has not come to completion. Asbestos are still being imported, used and are still dangerous to the very people that are exposed to it.
Types of Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural disease is often seen in people who have been exposed to high levels of asbestos while on the job. It usually takes 10 years or more for changes to appear that are indicative of pleural disease which affects the thin membrane layer in the chest. These differences can include a thickening or calcification of the pleural lining and is usually diagnosed as pleural plaques, pleural thickening and pleural calcification.In most cases, pleural disease is not considered fatal but it does have the ability to impair the lung function and the individual could be at a higher risk of developing more severe asbestos cancer.

Pericardial Mesothelioma
Malignant pericardial mesothelioma is a type of cancer that originates in the mesothelium, a thin wall of cells that surround the body’s organs and internal body structures. Pericardial mesothelioma originates in the lining of the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma is known to be caused by exposure to asbestos. While the precise route by which microscopic asbestos fibers reaches the pericardial lining is not known, physicians surmise that inhaled asbestos fibers are absorbed into the bloodstream and become entangled in the heart’s lining as the blood processes through the heart. Mesothelioma occurring in other parts of the body, such as in the pleura or peritoneum, can also metastasize to the pericardial lining. Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest of these malignancies and accounts for only an estimated 10% of all mesothelioma incidences annually.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thin cell walls which surround the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second rarest form of the disease and accounts for approximately 20% of all mesothelioma cases each year. Peritoneal mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos said to reach the abdominal wall by one of two methods. The first is through ingested asbestos fibers which are processed through digestion and become lodged in peritoneum. These other method is through the lungs and lymph nodes, by inhaled asbestos fibers.
Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma

The early symptoms of mesothelioma are generally non-specific, and may lead to a delay in diagnosis. Sometimes resembling viral pneumonia, pleural mesothelioma patients may present with shortness of breath, chest pain and/or persistent cough and some patients show no symptoms at all. A chest x-ray may show a build-up of fluid or pleural effusion. For most symptoms of mesothelioma it may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos, hence it is very silent and deadly, making it more difficult to diagnose.

Common Symptoms Caused By Mesothelioma :-

* chest wall pain
* pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
* shortness of breath
* fatigue or anemia
* wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
* blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up
* abdominal pain
* problems with bowel function
* weight loss
* low blood sugar level

PLEASE BEAR MIND THAT THESE SYMPTOMS MAY BE CAUSED BY MESOTHELIOMA OR BY OTHER LESS SERIOUS CONDITIONS. ONLY A DOCTOR CAN MAKE A CONCLUSIVE DIAGNOSIS.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on many factors, including: the stage of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope and the patient’s age and desires.
Choice of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma:-

* Surgery (taking out the cancer)
* Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
* Radiation Therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)

Legal Matters

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma it is important that you preserve your legal rights. Don’t let time prevent you from taking legal action. Every state establishes set time-frames for filing lawsuits for an asbestos related injury. These time-frames are also known as the state statutes of limitation. The deadlines established in the statutes are fixed so it is important to consult with a legal professional soon after the onset of an asbestos related illness to determine what, if any action may be appropriate.
Category: Health, Mesothelioma
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Mesothelioma’s Cause - Asbestos Exposure

Just like any other disease, the symptoms of mesothelioma vary from case to case and with the severity of the illness. The type of mesothelioma - whether pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial - also determines what the symptoms might be. Often times, the general overall health of the individual, as well as his/her age, may also play a role in how the patient is affected by the disease and which symptoms are most bothersome.
One of the most difficult problems with diagnosing mesothelioma and connecting the symptoms with the disease is the fact that so many of the symptoms - both individually and in tandem - can easily be mistaken for other more common diseases like flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, and others.
A doctor well versed in mesothelioma treatment will take time to investigate a patient's history and hopefully connect past exposure to asbestos with the symptoms. Patients, however, can do their part as well. Anyone that was ever exposed to asbestos, even if it was decades ago, should inform their doctor of the exposure. That information will not only aid the doctor in diagnosis but will also help eliminate the need for many costly and uncomfortable tests that may be ordered while fishing for a diagnosis.
Tests are being developed that will help diagnose mesothelioma at an earlier stage, even before the most common symptoms appear. It is hoped that these tests will aid in treating the disease before it reaches its most advanced stages.
The Symptoms
As was stated previously, symptoms of mesothelioma can vary, but the most common general symptoms are:

1. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
2. Coughing
3. Pain in chest or abdomen
4. Fluid in the chest, lungs, or abdomen
5. Weight loss
6. Loss of appetite
7. Inability to sleep
8. Husky voice
9. Difficulty swallowing

It is the first two symptoms that generally bring a patient to the doctor's office. Both difficulty breathing and persistent coughing are caused by the lung's inability to expand properly due to tumors in the pleural region. The growing tumors cause the pleura, pericardium, or peritoneum to expand, thus allow fluid to enter. That generally causes pain - acute to severe - in the affected regions, such as the chest or abdomen. Breathing difficulties also make it hard to sleep and often result in loss of appetite and, eventually, weight loss.
Depending on the type of mesothelioma diagnosed - pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal - symptoms might vary from the above, which pertain mostly to pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of the disease.
Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma might include:

1. Abdominal pain, acute to severe
2. Swelling of the abdominal region due to fluid accumulation
3. Breathing difficulties
4. Loss of appetite resulting in weight loss
5. Bowel obstruction
6. Nausea
7. Vomiting
8. Weakness
9. Fever
10. Anemia
11. Common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma might include:
12. Chest pain, ranging from uncomfortable to severe
13. Shortness of breath
14. Heart palpitations
15. Persistent coughing
16. Extreme fatigue after minimal activity or exertion
17. Because the three types of the disease are similar but centered in different parts of the body, the patient is likely to have symptoms that overlap. For example, nearly all meso patients suffer from shortness of breath and fatigue, but the pain may be more apparent in the abdominal/stomach area for peritoneal patients and in the chest for those with pleural or pericardial mesothelioma.

Ascertaining a Diagnosis
If a doctor recognizes symptoms as indicative of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, such as asbestosis, the patient will be asked to undergo several tests. Most doctors begin by ordering a conventional x-ray in order to get a closer look at the chest or abdomen. What appears on this x-ray will be the first indication of whether or not the doctor should continue pursuing his suspected diagnosis and order additional tests.
If mesothelioma is still suspected after the x-ray, an MRI or CT scan will most likely be in order. These sophisticated imaging processes allow an even closer look at organs such as the lungs or abdomen. A blood test may be ordered as well because such tests can measure the levels of specific proteins, which might aid in the diagnosis.
However, because other more common diseases, such as benign asbestos-related pleural disease, can have very similar appearances on imaging studies, a tissue biopsy is usually recommended and is often the final test that leads to an accurate diagnosis.

hat Is Malignant Mesothelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the mesothelium, which is a thin layer of tissue that covers most organs in the body. Mesothelioma most commonly affects the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen). This article discusses malignant mesothelioma of the pleura.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Being exposed to asbestos can affect the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma. Many people with malignant mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or swallowed asbestos. After being exposed to asbestos, it usually takes a long time for malignant mesothelioma to occur.
Other risk factors for malignant mesothelioma include the following:

* Living with a person who works near asbestos.
* Being exposed to a certain virus.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Malignant Mesothelioma
For information on malignant mesothelioma symptoms, see the full eMedTV article called Mesothelioma Symptoms.
In order to make a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis, a doctor will perform a medical history and physical exam, followed by specific tests and procedures to confirm the diagnosis. Some of these tests may include CT scans, biopsy, and surgery. A malignant mesothelioma diagnosis is often difficult to make because the symptoms associated with the disease are similar to those of many other medical conditions.